Automobile valve tool



Dec.3, 1929. L. E. FIX

AUTOMOBILE VALVE TOOL Filed May 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet I HIl IIIIHII k /7 la a l9 LEM/1:5 EZHZE'J'I'Z'X Dec. 3, 1929. F 1,738,178

AUTOMOBILE VALVE TOOL Filed May 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zpmwwaw Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE LEW IS ELMER FIX, OF BOSWELL, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MILWAT MANUFACTUR- ING- GO., 0]? IAXTQN, ILLINOIS AUTOMOBILE VALVE TOOL Application filed May 5,

This invention relates to a tool to be used in connection with valve grinding and more specifically for compressing the spring surrounding the valve stem, receiving the locking members when they fall from their seat, assembling the locking members after the grinding operation has been performed and securing the valve stem in place.

The principal object is to provide a tool which will greatly facilitate the compressing of the stiffest spring surrounding the valve stem with very little effort to the operator.

Another object is to provide means for receiving the locking members when they fall from their seat after the spring has been compressed and for replacing the locking members after the grinding operation is concluded. 7

Other objects will be disclosed in the specification and drawings.

The operation of grinding valves in an automobile engine has always presented a serious problem. In order to release the valve stem and to permit the grinding of the valve seat,

' the spring surrounding the valve stem must be compressed in order to permit the removal of the securing means. In many of the later models, this spring is of a very heavy type and unless the mechanic has a special tool for compressing this spring, it is almost impossible to grind the valves.

Another problem which presents itself in the grinding of valves, especially where the conical split locking type is used, is that of losing these parts when the spring is com pressed sufficiently to permit their release. I have provided a tray which automatically slides beneath the valve stem upon the spring being compressed sufficiently to admit the same.

Another problem which confronts the me chanic where securing means of this type are used, is the reassembling of same and replacing them in their seat on the valve stem. I solve this problem by assembling the parts in the tray carried by the upper jaws of my tool in a lock holder and upon the spring being compressed the parts carried by the tray will seat themselves very readily on the valve stem.

The recess in the valve stem to receive the locking means may be of two types. Where the recess has a gradual tapered face, the taper of the stem itself will force the locking members free of the stem upon the valve stem being forced downward; but a much more difficult problem presents itself for removing the locking means from the valve stem, where, instead of a taper, the recess or seat takes the form of a rectangular recess with shoulders at top and bottom. In this case, the downward thrustof the valve stem will not free the looking means, but it is necessary to provide some means for forcing the locking means away from the valve stem by outward pressure, instead of downward. This problem I have solved by the use of certain apparatus to be used in connection with the tray which will be hereinafter described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 1s a longitudinal section taken on line l-l of Figure 2 through the valve and tool, showing the tool when first attached;

Figure 1 is a section showing the springs slightly compressed;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the tool on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the spring compressed and the tray beneath the valve stem with the locking means in the tray;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan on line 44: of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 and partly in section showing the tool in position for the assembling operation;

Figure 6 is a plan of a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Figure 5, showing the assembling means in the tray of the tool;

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective of the assembling means with the top portion removed;

Figure 10 is a vertical section showing the spring compressed and the valve stem protruding through the tray with the locking means snapped into position;

Figure 11 is a horizontal section on line 1l-11 of Figure 10, showing a separator in the tray to be used in removing the locking means;

Figure 12 is a section on line 1212' of Figure 11, showing the split locking means;

Figure 13 is a perspective showing the means for separating the split locking means removed from the tray;

Figure 14 shows a modified form of assembling he locking means from that shown in "Figure'Gyand V Figure 15 is alongitudinal section taken along the line 1515 of Figure 14 showing the valve stem in place.

Figure 16 is a perspective of the tray removed from the tool. 7

In the drawings similar numerals of refer- .encelindicate corresponding parts in the different views r [Numeral '1 designates a valve stem surrounded by a compressionspring 2 and having a housing 3 for receiving the locking members v4. Numeral 5 designates a conical seat forming a head or shoulder 6 against whichathe" locking members 4 rest. 7 and 8 arethe upper and lower-jaw levers, respectlVBb'fOffi/tOOl 9,'pivotally connected at 10, .upon wh-ich they-turn-when in operation. A togglejjoint 11; permits the bringing together or separating-of the jaws? and 8, the said toggle 11; being connected to the upper jaw 7 .at 12.-and at 12 tohandle member 13 which 'inturnis pivotally connected to the lower jaw 8 at 14.

Slidably mounted in, grooves .15 in the upper j aw-7 isia'tra'y 16' connected to an-arm i'lfi'wh-ich turnis-pivotally: connected to a handilever 18, the hand lever18 being pivotally secured to the lowerjaw 8, by a pin 19. Mounted on the pin 19 is a tension spring 20i'normallyforcingthe hand lever 18 forward. On the face of the hand lever 18 are serrations ornotches 21which engage a lug .22 carriedbyithe handle member 13. The tray-ldhas projecting lips 23rand side flanges 24, the side flanges sliding in grooves 15. In 'thebottomt'of the tray isshown an opening 25 to receive the valve stem 1. As shown in Figure 6,-a1lock. holder 26 'to beused forv assembling. the-lock: members 4 may be placed in the tray 16, the) lock members 4 being forced downiinto the lock holderi26 forcing the springvmembers-27 outwardly, the inner faces ofthe -locking members resting against projections28 in the lock holder 26.

A modification 30 of the lock holder, similar tO-ZthQt ShOWII in.Figure 6 is shown in Figures 14 and 15 wherein :springvmembers *27'" carry cams -28"=with shoulders..29, the sh0ulders,29-acting as spacer elements for theelocking members. Otherr-spring members 32, notcarrying cams, press against the outer sides of the locking members-4.

Where locking membersare secured in rectangular seats 5, it-may be desirable to use a separator, such: as. is shownin' Figures 10,

faces passing through aperture 25 in bottom of separator 30.

As actually operated, the jaws 7 and 8 of the tool 9 are placed beneath the valve so that flanges 7 of the upper jaw 7 will contact with the housing 3 and the lower jaw .8 will eventually rest upon some rigid portion of the engine block. The handle member 13 will then be forced downwardly andthe upper jaw 7 fulcrum 14 will cause the compressionspring 2 to be compressed with very slight change in the angularity of the jaws themselves; the jaw movement approaching parallel jaw action and reducing the tendency of thejaws to slip when the tool is in use. The tray 16 being under constantspring tension, slides forward in the grooves 15 after the jaws draw apart sufliciently to allow lugs 16' to disengage from locking shoulders 8 of lower jaw atwhich time the projecting lips 23 of the tray slip under the raised housing 3 and support the split collar 4 which has been released by the housing 3 and must be supported until the tray is beneath said split collar.

As the separation of the jaws continues, the valve spring is further compressed and the valve stem as well as the housing is raised because of the tray lips 23 being directly beneath the valve stem. hen the a-ws have suflieiently separated, the tray, because of the spring tension, will shoot forward so that it will come to restdirectly beneath the valve stem. By this time, the locking means 4 will have become completely disengaged from the housing 3, and being deprived of the support ofthe tray lips, 23, will fall into the tray 16 as the housing 3 has raised sufiiciently to release them. In case members 4 should stick,

the valve stem 1 may be forced downwardly and because of its tapered construction, will force the locking members outwardly to free them. When the tray 16 has been released by reason of lugs 16 disengaging from locking shoulders 8 the same becomes locked in its extended position by reason of the lug 22 and teeth 21 carried by the hand lever 18, and handle member 13, respectively, coming into locking engagement as shown in Figure 3. When the tool is first placed in position,

only the flanges 7 of the upper jaw come in contact with the housing and the tray lips 23 by reason of the closed position of the jaws are positioned beneath the locking members 4 but out of contact with the same; but, after because of the toggle 11 and the upper jaw is raised, carrying tray member with it, the tray lips gradually come into contact with the locking members, and raise the same along with the valve stem until the jaws have separated sufiiciently to permit the tray to shoot forward directly beneath the locking members and valve stem. Y

The hand lever 18 is then pulled back, pulling the tray with it and at the same time, releasing the jaws 7 and 8, which will come together and permit the removal of the tool. The operation of grinding the valves may then he proceeded with in the usual manner. After the valve grinding operation is completed, a lock holder, of the type shown in Figure 6, is placed in the tray, the locking members 4 being first inserted therein, and being held securely in place by the spring members 27 and suitably spaced apart by projections 28. The compression spring is then compressed by means of aws 7 and 8, as shown in Figure 5, the tray shooting forward as in the first operation, when sufficient clearance between the jaws has been reached. The valve stem is held in fixed position during this operation, and after the locking members are forced upwardly around the valve stem, the head of same will force the locking members outwardly, compressing the spring 27 until the tapered seat 5 is reached when the locking members will spring into their locked position, carrying the lock retainer with them. The operator will then raise the stem until the locl: holder is wiped off the split collar by engagement with flanges 7' of upper aw 7. The split collar is now seated in the housing 3 in its normal position and the lock holder has fallen back into the tray so that the tool may now be removed.

When the modification, as shown in Figures 14; and 15 is desired to be used, the shoulders 29 on the cam 28 are of such width that they force the locking members sutficiently apart to give clearance to the valve stem head in passing through. However as the head of the stem descends it engages cam surfaces 28 so that the cams 28 will be forced outwardly until the shoulders 29 are beyond the outer edge of the locking members whereupon the spring members 32 on the opposite sides will force the locking members inwardly around the valve stem, since the cams themselves are of less width than the shoulders thus permitting the locking members to snap into the recess 5 around the valve stem. Cams 28 are limited in their inward movement by reason of downwardly projecting lugs 29 sliding in grooves in the floor portion of lock holder 30.

here the valve stem has a rectangular re cess 5 instead of a tapered recess 5, it is often necessary to provide some means for removing the locking members from the recesses after the spring has been compressed. WVhere this is necessary, I place in the tray preliminary to compressing the spring, a member such as shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, The wedges 31 secure to the bottom of the separator 30 will project up between the locking members separating the same and forcing them free from the valve stem when the housing has been lifted far enough to leave the locking members free. This procedure is only necessary when the recess in the valve stem is other than of the tapered type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A valve tool comprising jaws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray carried by said jaws adapted to slide forward upon the separating of the jaws.

2. A valve tool comprising aws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray carried by one of said jaws and means for advancing said tray upon the separating of the jaws.

3. A valve tool comprising upper and lower jawspivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said upper jaw. and means for advancing said tray upon the separation of the jaws.

4. A valve tool comprising upper and lower jaws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said upper jaw, and advancing means for advancing said tray upon the separation of the jaws.

5. A valve tool comprising upper and lower jaws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and 'from each other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said upper jaw, and automatic means for advancing said tray upon the separation of the jaws.

6. A valve tool comprising upper and lower jaws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said upper jaw, means for locking said tray against advancement while the jaws are in closed position, and means for advancing said tray upon the separation of the jaws.

7. A valve tool comprising upper and lower jaws pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally connected to each of said jaws for moving them toward and from each other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said upper jaw, means for advancing said tray upon the separation of the jaws and means for locking said jaws in open position.

8. A valve tool comprising upper and lower 5 {per gaw;means;foradvancing said tray upon the separation of. the "jaws 'and. means for .loc'kingathe; tray in.:a: predetermine'd position said'valvespring and covers locking membersseated'on said valve stem; said tool having means for compressing said valve spring, a tray carred by said valve tool, and means in said trayfor removing the locking members from said valve stem.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEVI-S ELM ER FIX.

44 means for compressing.v saidx valve spring {and x 'valve spring sand covers locking members :aftenthej aws have a separated, sufiiciently to pemrit'the passage of the tray. 9. -:A.valve toolcomprising upper .andvlower Ejaws pivotal-1y connected to each other,- mea-ns pivotally connected to each of said jZLWSZfOI ?movingtthemrtoward andrifrom-each-other, a tray slidably mounted in grooves in said up- 535 "penjaw; means for iadvancingi saidtray upon the, separationofthe jawszand means'for lock- ;i-ngithe jaws "in open positioniand the tray .aagainst'cfurther;advancement: after: the j aws :have separatedsu fiicientlyto'z permit the pase sage of the tray.

110. Avalve' tool' comprisinguppen and low- --er jawsipivotally ICOIIHGCtBCl'ItO each "other, .Jneans pivotallyrconnected'toeach of said jaws Hon-moving.themitowardzand from eachother, tattra'yi' slidablyzmounted; in grooves in said upper jaw, :ineans tfor locking said tray against advancement ."while the awscare in closed positiommeansffo-r advancing said'tray .xupon: the-iseparationaofthe jaws, andimeans ago Lforllocking the jaws: in open position :and the tray zagainstfurther: advancement after the aws have separated "suffic-iently' to permit the passageof thetray.

' 11; A valveitoolnadapted toremoveandre- 115 ."place a iva lve in ran internal combustion engine'xin which a valve spring surrounds a valve stemyand in which 'a' housing supports the valve" spring: and coversi locking members seated OIl'i'thGk valve stem said tool including releasing the locking'members seated on said i'valve stem; andrmeans-carried' by said tool *for removing said locking members from'said valve stem when said spring is: compressed s4 .Lbrysaid tool.

'12.. A"va1ve tool adapted to remove andreplaceavalve inan internal combustion engine in which 1a iVfilVB spring surrounds a valve stem,: and in Which'ai housing supportsthe lseatedion the valve stem; the'said tool including meansfor compressing said-valve spring and" releasing the locking members seated on said valve stem,-and means carried by said tool 35 forvremoving the locking members from said valve stem when said spring iscompressed by'said tool, :and "means for receiving said "lock-ing members from the last named means land-adapted to -replace said lockingimembers 1100 in looking position on-saidstem by recompression of said valve spring bysaid tool.

:13. Aivalve'tool adapted to remove and'replacea valve in an internal combustion engine in WlIiChLB, valve spring surrounds a valve w'istem and: in :whichi a housing supports the 

